Chapter Seven
With Buffy having gone and patrol and Giles immersing himself in research, Willow could ignore the rumblings in her stomach no longer. Taking up Xander's advice she headed for the 'Crashdown Café'. She had been sitting there for about ten minutes when she heard the waitress say, "Hi Isabel."
Hearing the name of Xander's mystery girl she immediately looked up in her direction, noticing who 'Isabel' was. She wondered if this was the same 'Isabel' who Xander had spoken about. When Isabel went to sit down she decided she had nothing to lose and approached her.
"Excuse me, Isabel?"
Isabel looked up, searching her memory. She thought she recognized the girl on front of her, but couldn't place it. "Yes, can I help you?"
Willow took a seat across from her. "I'm Willow. A friend of Xander's."
Isabel took a quick intake of breath, remembering where she had seen her before. She glanced around checking the see if she was being watched. "How did you know who I am?"
"I took a guess. I heard the waitress call your name and took a chance there wasn't another Isabel in Roswell." Willow replied with a smile.
"Okay," Isabel replied nervously.
Willow could see that this was making Isabel uncomfortable. "I just wanted to say thanks."
Isabel stared at her. "I'm sorry."
"Thanks for being there for him and for letting us know what happened."
"That's okay." Isabel relaxed a little, not knowing how to continue. She had so many questions that she wanted to ask, but her curiosity was tempered by need to avoid answering questions about herself that she really didn't want to discuss.
Willow saw the indecision on Isabel's face. "I'm not here to cross-examine you," she said hoping it would put her at ease.
"Thanks," Isabel replied gathering up her courage. "Can I ask you a few questions about him?"
"Sure," Willow answered with a grin. "What would you like to know."
"Oh god, I don't know where to start. I know his parents recently passed away. Is he okay?"
"I think so. He didn't have the best relationship with them, but that didn't stop him loving them deeply. He looked a lot better in the hospital today. Better than he has for a while."
"Does he always go around rescuing people?"
Willow picked her words carefully. "Xander has always been protective of the ones he cares about, almost to much. He was always more concerned about his friends safety then his own." Willow stopped, studying Isabel. "Can I ask you why you haven't gone to see him?"
"It's complicated."
Willow nodded, not pushing it. "He would love to see you though."
"Have you known him for long?"
"Since we were kids."
"Tell me about him, please"
****************
The pain in her legs had dulled into a throbbing pulse, but Mary Chambers had a feeling that that was the only god thing that would happen tonight. Judging by the way her captives had left, they planned on completing their catch tonight. She hoped, like the last two nights, they would come back empty handed.
****************
Isabel sat listening to Willow talk about Xander for half an hour, committing it all to her memory. When Willow paused Isabel decided that it was time to go.
"Thanks, Willow," Isabel said getting up. "I think I'll go and see him now."
She was surprised when Willow got up and gave her a hug.
"No, thank you," Isabel said before letting go. "I'll see you later."
Isabel nodded, before heading out of the café. She walked down the streets of Roswell heading for the hospital, determined that nothing was going to stop her from seeing Xander. She knew that Willow had been keeping some details secret from her, but she didn't mind. They were things she would find out for herself. After all she hadn't opened up completely either.
Being so engrossed in thought she didn't notice when a vampire snuck up behind her. The only thing she felt was the pain when a piece of wood thudded into the base of her skull, and that was only for a split second, her body shutting down before she hit the footpath.
The vampire stood over her, smiling ruthlessly as he bent down to pick up his fallen prey. 'Only one more to get.' he thought.
****************
Max and Michael came running into the café, alerting all the people who were eating to their presence. They ran straight to the counter, where Liz and Maria were gossiping.
"Have you seen Isabel?" Max asked obviously worried.
"She was in here an hour ago. She spent a long time talking to this girl we hadn't seen before," Liz answered.
"I haven't seen her all day long."
"Are you surprised the way you jumped down her throat about the Xander thing," Maria retorted.
"You're not helping," Michael returned.
Maria threw her arms up and left to the back, not wanting to get into another argument.
Seeing that Max was really worried, Liz put aside her loyalty to Isabel. "Have you checked the hospital?"
"Not for a while."
"I would check there then." Liz paused. "She really likes him, Max."
"I know. That's the problem."
*****************
Isabel awoke to find her self chained and manacled to a wall. Her first thought was to try and unlock the metal bonds around her wrists. She tried to turn her hand to be able to effect its molecular structure, but her hands were locked tight and she couldn't use her powers. Looking around she could barely make out the features of the four girls that occupied the same part of the cave. What she could tell was that they were all scared.
"Where are we?" she asked no one in particular.
"We're not suppose to speak," came the reply.
"I need to know where we are," Isabel replied.
"We in one of the caves near the old mine. I was awake when they brought me here."
Isabel focused her eyes. She recognized the girl who spoke. "Mary?"
"Yeah."
Isabel sighed. She couldn't reach Xander's license in the pocket of the jeans. Never having tried before, she hoped that his image, that was imprinted on her mind would be enough to meet him, and that was if he was asleep as well.
Mary watched, as Isabel seemed to lose consciousness again. Her body half hanging from the wall. Mary could feel the last remaining hope she had ebbing away.
*****************
Xander had fallen asleep. It was the only way he knew to see Isabel. He had so many things he wanted to tell her, but mostly he just wanted the feeling of togetherness he got when they were near.
He walked into the Bronze, hoping that she would be there waiting for him, however looking around he saw no sign of her. He took a seat and waited, tapping his hand on the bar to the rhythm of he music.
A few minutes after he arrived, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around he came face to face with 'The Girl of his Dreams' literally. The first thing he noticed was that she looked scared. Xander wrapped his arms around her.
"I've been waiting. It's good to see you," he whispered to her.
Isabel pulled away slightly, "I'm in trouble. I think I've been taken like those other girls."
Xander tensed before reaching out and lightly caressing her cheek. "Are you okay?"
Isabel nodded. "For the moment. I need you to get Max and Michael. They will know what to do."
"Where are you?"
"I think I'm in one of the caves near the old mine. It's on the south side of town. I don't know which one."
"I'll get them, plus some other help."
"Who?"
"My friends." Xander leant over and kissed her gently on the cheek. "Hang in there. I won't let anything happen to you." He gave her smile before forcing himself to wake up.
***************
Xander woke up with a start, his mind racing with what he had to do. First things first, he reached over and picked up the phone, dialing his motel room, hoping that Giles or someone was there.
"Hello, Rupert Giles."
"Giles, it's Xander. Isabel's been taken and I know where."
"How?"
"She told me in a dream."
"And you're sure it's real?"
"Trust me, it's real."
"Okay, were is she?"
"In one of the caves near the old mine on the southside of Roswell."
"Okay, we'll get on it."
By this time, Xander had gotten himself out of bed and was throwing on his clothes as quickly as possible, trying not to get tangled in the phone cord. "Wait for me, I'll be there..."
"Xander, no. You're in no condition..."
"Giles, please I have to..."
"I'm sorry, but you can't." Giles softened his voice. "We'll get her back."
Xander sighed. "Fine." He hung up the phone forcefully. He didn't want to go against Giles's wishes, but there was no way he was going to stay put. Grabbing his jacket he was about to exit, when Michael and Max entered the room.
"Where's Isabel?"
"She's been taken," Xander responded still walking towards the door. Michael grabbed Xander by the neck of his shirt.
"This is all your fault."
Xander shoved Michael's arms away. "I don't know what you're problem is and I really don't care. Isabel asked me to get you guys. Now you're here we should go."
Max stepped forward, standing between Xander and Michael. "We'll take care of it. Where is she?"
"I'll tell you, but you guys have no idea about what you are dealing with." He turned to look directly at Michael. "Even after what you saw in the alley, you seem to care more about attacking me then Isabel." Xander shook his head in disgust before switching back to Max. "She needs our help. My friends are already on their way. So do we go and I explain on the way or are we going to stand here playing twenty questions."
Max and Michael looked at each other before Max nodded. "Fine. Let's go."
*****************
"Isabel? Are you okay?"
Isabel let her eyes refocus on her surroundings, before turning to Mary. "I'm fine."
"You scared me slipping away like that."
"I'm sorry. We have to just hang on for a while."
"How can you be so sure?"
Isabel answered with a small smile. "I just have a feeling."
"You're feeling is correct girl," a thunderous voice broke out through the almost silence.
Isabel turned to see two of the vampires approaching her, while another two followed close behind. She had not believed Michael's story about the vampire in the alley, but now face to face with one, the fear in her strengthened. The leader turned to one of his underlings, "Release them. The time is near."
Mary shot Isabel an uncomfortable look as her captors released her. One by one each of the girls was unclasped, until he approached Isabel, bending down to open the locks to her leg irons.
Suddenly an arrow pierced the lead vampire's heart, and Isabel had to close her eyes to avoid the dust spraying into them. She looked up to see one of Xander's friends standing there with a crossbow in her hand.
"One down, three to go," she shouted to the vampires.
The one who was unlocking the girls got up, not unlocking Isabel's hands. "Get her" he bellowed at the others.
****************
Xander sat in the back of Max's jeep, wondering why Max and Michael were acting so secretive about something. He had given them a crash course in vampire fighting, trying to impress on them what they would be seeing, but they seemed to be not really listening. Almost as if they considered him not worth speaking to.
"We're here!" Max announced.
Xander took a look around happy to see that Giles's car was parked a little over to the side. "So are my friends," he said pointing to the car.
He noticed Michael glance at Max, as if he was worried about something.
"Whatever it is it can wait!" Xander said a little impatiently as he got out. He waited for Max to catch up with him, not knowing which way to go. Xander followed Max and Michael into the cave, but he was having trouble keeping up. His injuries from the night before, still hurt like hell, making speed difficult. It was fortuitous though as it gave him the chance to hear the sounds of a fight. He noticed that Max and Michael in their haste had continued on, apparently not hearing the same sounds he did.
"This way," he loudly whispered to them, before heading off towards the sounds, not waiting too see if they followed. As he rounded the bend he came upon a scene he had witnessed a lot in the past few years. A darkened cavern littered with candles brightly burning and in the middle of the area Buffy was fighting for her life, four against one, while Willow and Giles tried to lend a hand. Xander's attention was diverted to the sound of a scream. Looking over into a corner of the cavern, he saw five girls kneeling down, but only one of them was still chained. One he instantly recognized.
"Isabel"
Chapter Eight
The view that greeted Xander as he round the corner was all too familiar to him. In the middle of the room, Buffy was man handling two vampires, while Giles and Willow were taking care of another. Noticing that they seemed to have the fight well in hand, and also realizing the fact that he was in no condition to help them anyway, he made his way to where Isabel was chained to the wall. Keeping to the corners, trying to hide his body, he made his way as quickly as possible to where Isabel and the others were crouching.
As he neared them he saw that Willow and Giles had been alerted to his presence. He ignored the disapproving looks they gave him and went up to Isabel.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned, as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm okay."
He noticed that the others had been let out of their chains, but that Isabel still had hers firmly fastened. "Where's the key?"
Isabel shook her head," I don't know. One of them unlocked the others but your friends came in before they could get to me. I think they were going to sacrifice us."
Xander lightly squeezed her hand. "It's okay now. We'll get you out of here."
Giles watched Xander and Isabel talk, cursing to himself that Xander had ignored his instructions. Willow noticed the look Giles gave. "I don't think we could have stopped him" she offered.
Giles nodded, before going over to see him. "I wish you hadn't come."
"I know, but I had to. Do you know where the key is for this?"
Giles looked around, "I think one of the vampires has it on them." Giles looked over at the vampire Buffy was fighting. "That one, over there."
Xander nodded. "Get the other girls out of here," Xander suggested.
"What about you?" Giles asked a little shocked that Xander not only was telling him what to do, but also not liking the fact that Xander would be left behind.
"I'm not leaving till Isabel does."
"Xander, perhaps you..." Isabel started, before being silenced by Xander's look.
"No. I'm not going anywhere."
Seeing that Xander would not be swayed unless Giles was willing to forcibly remove him, Giles did what Xander wanted and quickly ushered the other girls towards the exit of the cavern.
Xander watched as Buffy fought with vampire Giles had pointed out. He was about to alert Buffy to grab the keys from it, when they fell loose in the fight. He noticed that Buffy was being slowly re-positioned down one of the tunnels that lead away from the cavern. Before he could say anything, he noticed that the keys were out in the open.
"Will!" he shouted getting her attention, before she followed Buffy.
Willow turned around noticing Xander was pointing to a place on the floor.
"Throw me those keys"
Willow rushed over and got them, throwing them across the floor to where Xander was. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. Help Buffy."
Willow nodded before heading off.
Xander turned back to Isabel and quickly unlocked the manacles that were holding her arms up. As he did, she collapsed into his arms. They held on to each other, even with all that was going on, still savoring their first embrace.
Just as Xander pulled back to say something, a hand grabbed him up, roughly throwing him over to the center of the room. As he hit the floor, he felt his ribs crack again. Looking up he saw a vampire closing in on his position. He had no idea where it came from, but he was angry with himself for not being more careful. Slowly getting to his feet to face his attacker, Xander wasn't quick enough as he felt the vampire's fist hit his jaw with such force that it knocked him back down to the ground. Before he had a chance to react, he felt another boot go into his ribs and he started gasping for breath. He managed to get a look at Isabel who was looking on in fear. "Damn it," he said to himself, "I don't want to die today."
**************************
"Where did he go?" Michael asked, noticing for the first time that Xander wasn't behind them.
Max turned back around. "I don't know."
Michael had already started back along the tunnel. "He must have turned off back there."
Max took one last look in front of him, before turning around and following Michael hoping that they weren't going in the wrong direction.
*********************
Buffy had realized that she was being taken away from the open spaces, where she had the advantage. She saw a quick opening and snapped the neck of one of her two targets, before plunging her stake into its heart. Seeing that the other one had backed away, suddenly worried that it had lost the advantage, she slowly moved up to it.
"You must really have thew worst luck. Trying this crap when the Slayer is in town?"
"Slayer!" it hissed back at her.
"Yeah, well that's original." Buffy retorted, glad that her little remark had stopped the vampire from running. She quickly thrust her hand out, catching the vampire, flush on the side of the head. Ducking its return she thrust up and underneath, driving the stake into its heart.
Wholly satisfied with the night's work she started to head back, only to be met by Willow half way. "What are doing here Will?" she asked.
"I thought you might need some help."
"Thanks. Where's Giles?"
"He got most of the girls out."
"Most?"
"Yeah. Isabel is still there with Xander."
"Damn!" Buffy cursed before running back to the cavern.
************************
Isabel watched in horror as the vampire, picked Xander up and through him across the room, only stopping when it hit the far wall with a sickening thud. She looked around for something to use as a stake. She had seen enough movies to know how to kill them, she just hoped that it would be as effective in real life as in Hollywood. She saw a shard of wood nearby and picked it up, waiting for an opening. Noticing that the vampire had turned his back to her, she acted without thought, rushing it, sending the instrument of death piercing through the vampire's body. Not waiting to see what the aftermath of her actions was, she quickly rushed over to Xander, turning his body over to see his face. She would not let this person whom she had just met die on the same day. Xander's face was a crimson mess, his breath was short and his eyes remained closed.
"Damn it, Xander, look at me," she shouted desperately as she pulled his shirt up and laid her hands on his chest.
Xander's eyes snapped open at the sound of Isabel's voice. The instant their eyes met, energy rushed through their bodies.
In her mind's eye, Isabel witnessed moments from Xander's life.
His childhood friendship with Willow and Jesse. Hiding at Willow's to keep away from his parents. The first meeting with Buffy Summers. His friend Jesse falling on a stake he held. Bringing Buffy back to life. Fighting a huge demon snake at Graduation. Watching his parents house burn down and the first time he saw Isabel at the hospital. All of the feelings he had inside of him rushed through Isabel as she instantly learned who Xander Harris was.
Xander could feel his body healing, but he refused to shift his focus. He lost himself in those eyes above him, swimming around in their beauty.
At that moment Max and Michael rushed into the room, seeing Isabel leaning over Xander's prone body. Michael was about to rush over to her, when Max held him back. "Leave it," he cautioned. Sensing that Michael was about to argue he silenced him, "It's done, we'll deal with it later."
As they stood there watching, Buffy and Willow came back into the main cavern. Seeing Xander laying there, they rushed over to him,
"Xander!" Buffy and Willow yelled at once.
They were surprised to find that Xander was sitting up smiling the biggest grin they had seen since his parents died. Glancing back at Isabel they saw that she too was smiling, both of them seemingly locked into each other's eyes, refusing to break the connection.
Buffy and Willow looked at each other and couldn't help laughing, the relief flowing through them.
**************
The Next Day
"So what now?" Max asked his sister, as he sat down at one of the lunch tables at Roswell High.
"I don't know?" she replied, her attention not really on the day at school.
"You took a big risk"
"Too big," Michael added.
"I know, but I couldn't do anything else." She looked at her brother, "Just like you had no choice."
Max nodded. "Is he staying in Roswell?"
Isabel shrugged. "I don't know."
*******************
Buffy, Willow and Giles had packed their things earlier in the day and had left Xander to rest, before coming back in the afternoon. When they entered they saw that Xander hadn't packed his suitcase.
"You're staying aren't you?" Willow asked.
"Don't be upset with me Will. It's what I want." Xander replied before looking across at Buffy and Giles. "I won't desert you guys. If you need something call, and I'll visit so much you'll think that I never left. I think a new start will do me good."
Buffy laughed. "And a certain young woman has nothing do to with it."
"You wound me with your words," Xander responded only half-serious. "I haven't actually spoken to her. "I'm not sure if she wants me to stay."
"I hope you'll be okay." Willow added concerned that her life long friend was leaving them.
Xander gave her sad smile, "You're still my Will," before turning once again to Buffy and Giles, "and my Buff and my Giles," giving Giles a silly grin, before getting serious again. "You guys are my family, I love you all so much. But this seems right. It is what I need to do"
Willow bent down and gave him a hug. "Promise me you'll write."
"I will."
Buffy moved over and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Don't be a stranger," she said with a tear in her eye.
"I won't."
After Buffy moved away Giles shuffled forward, trying to keep his upper lip as stiff as he had been trained to. "Never forget how proud I am of you," he said before embracing Xander.
Xander was rather taken aback, but returned the hug warmly. Just as his own emotions caught up with him, he noticed that Isabel standing in the doorway. He invited her in with a smile. Coming over to see him, she gave the others a smile before taking Xander's hand. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
She turned to the others noticing that their bags were all packed. "You're leaving already?"
"Pesky little thing called college waiting for us," Buffy answered.
Isabel laughed, "Real Life huh."
"Too much, sometimes."
They gathered up their belongings and took a last look at Xander.
"I'll call you in a couple of days" he added, trying to get the farewell over as soon as possible. Not that he wanted them to leave, but a quick goodbye was easier to handle.
"Be careful, Xan," Willow added.
Xander gave her a warm hug, "You too." Before walking with them outside, watching as they went down the stairs to their car. He returned their waves that they sent him as they got in, before watching with a tear running down his face as they drove off. He really felt like he had come to the end of something. He hoped that the beginning of his new life would be as good as his friends in Sunnydale made his old one.
Turning back around he noticed Isabel sitting on the bed watching him. He knew that she must have realized that he was staying. He hoped that it wouldn't freak her. He walked over and sat down on the bed, next to her chair.
"Is this okay?" he asked softly.
Isabel nodded. "Yeah, it's just a bit of pressure. You just left your whole life for me."
Xander laughed. "I did, didn't I. Look I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I just didn't want to leave, knowing that you were here. What happens now is for us to find out."
"There are things about me that you don't know." Isabel said nervously.
"Maybe, but I'm sure you will tell me when you are ready."
Isabel had to blink a couple of times. "You don't have any questions about what I did last night?"
"Sure. But that is for you to tell me. I've been living with strange for four years." He grabbed her hand and caressed in lightly. "And whatever is going on with you, it is a lot better than the weirdness I left behind."
He leant over slowly, moving his lips till they were just a small distance from Isabel's, waiting till she moved the fraction forward before continuing. When she did he lightly pressed on her lips with his.
Epilogue
In the early evening Xander and Isabel walked together hand in hand into the Crashdown Café. Both of them tensed as they saw Michael looking at them as they entered.
"Hi, guys, this is Xander," Isabel said not knowing why she felt like she should introduce him, but doing it just the same.
Max, Maria and Liz all greeted him. Xander turned to Michael holding out his hand, hoping Michael would accept the offer of friendship. Michael got up and the first thing that Xander thought he was going to do was get into another argument. Michael however motioned to the booth.
"There's room for both of you there."
Xander and Isabel just looked at each other wondering what the heck had just happened. Then Isabel looked at Michael, her eyes asking him why.
Michael shrugged. "Why not?" before pulling a seat over form another table and sitting at the end of the booth.
As they were all getting to know each other, Sheriff Valenti walked into the café. The group of them however were too far engrossed in the conversation to see him. He had gotten reports during the day about what had happened the night before. They were all confusing but two things were clear. The girls had been rescued and Xander Harris had mysteriously disappeared from the hospital. When he noticed that Xander was seated with the Evans siblings he shook his head.
"I should have known they were mixed up in it," he thought to himself, making a mental note to keep an eye on Xander Harris. Taking a last look at the group he decided to leave. There was another day for that conversation.
The End.